Arthur Kaster

Arthur Kaster, age 97 of Rock Rapids, IA died Monday, July 6, 2015 at Lyon Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids with Rev. Mark Hanson officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Friday July 10th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. In lieu of flowers family wish donations to be made to Lyon County Hospice. Arthur Leslie Kaster was born November 9, 1917 in Edna, IA to Charles and Emilie (Garnmeister) Kaster. He was raised on the family farm and attended country school near Edna. On July 12, 1939, Art enlisted in the United States Navy. Early in his military career, Art was flying missions over the Atlantic, patrolling for Nazi submarines who were on the hunt for British supply ships. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Art was assigned to the South Pacific theater. As a Aviation Chief Radio Man, he served on the USS Ranger, USS Essex, and USS Yorktown, among other bases of operation. Art had the privilege of supplying crucial support from the gunner seat of one of two dive bombers, the Douglass SBD Dauntless and Curtis SB2C Helldiver. In fact, while flying in a Helldiver, he assisted in the sinking of the Japanese Battleship Yamato. Art participated in every major battle in the Pacific theater. Upon reflection of his military service, he remarked that he was never really afraid in battle because of his mother's prayers and God's eternal watchfulness over his livelihood. Though he witnessed incredible victories and saw great loss of life, Art persevered WWII and resettled back to farm life in Iowa. In the course of his military career, Art earned two Distinguished Flying Cross' and five Air medals. On July 4, 1951 he was united in marriage to Beverly Wyland at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. He and Beverly made their home and raised their family on a farm near Edna, IA. They retired and moved to Rock Rapids in 1990. He was a lifetime member of Peace Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school for several years. Art lost his beloved wife Beverly in January of 2003. He missed her greatly. Art's faith and family meant the world to him, greatly enjoying quality time with all of his family, especially his grandchildren. Art was looking forward to this fall when his first great-grandchild will be born. The little girl will bear the middle name of Leslie in her great-grandfather's honor. Art is survived by son, Mark (and wife Tracy) Kaster of Mountain Top, PA and their children, Amanda Kaster (and fiancé Chris Averill), Abigail Kaster, and Matthew Kaster; daughter, Kathleen (and husband Steve) Wallenburg of Rock Rapids, and their children, Melissa (and husband Andrew) Klein and Sean Wallenburg; nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Beverly; three infant sons; sisters, Marie Johnson, Josie Tiedeman and Lorine Tiedeman; and brothers, Herman Kaster and Lawrence Kaster. Blessed be his memory.